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Level 6
Indonesia leader flies economy class
23rd November, 2014
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
Contents
The Article
2
Discussion (Student-Created Qs)
14
Warm-Ups
3
Language Work (Cloze)
15
Before Reading / Listening
4
Spelling
16
While Reading / Listening
5
Put The Text Back Together
17

Homework
25

Answers
26
Please try Levels 4 and 5 (they are easier).

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Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
2

THE ARTICLE
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has adopted a spirit of austerity by
flying economy class. People around the world have had to tighten their
belts because of government cuts and higher taxes. Indonesia's leader
has set an example to other world leaders that presidents are not exempt
from making personal cutbacks. He and his wife flew economy class last

about economy class. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will
the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

austerity / economy class / set an example / world leaders / cutbacks / graduation /
lifestyle / modest / populous / designer dresses / publicity / praised / follow / footsteps
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FLYING: How can these things be better? Complete this table with your partner(s).
Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Problems now
Improvements
Check-in Boarding Seats Food Entertainment Immigration
c.
The leader flew economy while his wife flew business class.
T / F
d.
The leader paid for his own ticket.
T / F
e.
The leader and his wife are known for their more simple lifestyle.
T / F
f.
The leader's wife often appears in public in designer dresses.
T / F
g.
A man tweeted that the leader flew economy to get more publicity.
T / F
h.
A woman tweeted to suggest other officials also fly economy.
T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1.
spirit
a.
fraudulent
2
tighten their belts
b.
chosen
3.
exempt
c.

1.
adopted a spirit
a.
stunt
2
tighten
b.
populous country
3.
set
c.
an example
4.
presidents are not
d.
on social media
5.
taxpayers footed
e.
of austerity
6.
down-to-
f.
exempt
7.
fourth most
g.
his footsteps
8.
mixed reaction

president. footed
exempt
tighten
flight
ceremony
spirit
set
nature

The Widodos are becoming known for their down-to-
(9) ____________ living. They have led a very modest lifestyle
since he became leader of the world's fourth most
(10) ____________ country last month. His wife Iriana is never
seen in (11) ____________ dresses and does a lot of her
shopping in a Jakarta clothing market. There was
(12) ____________ reaction on social media in Indonesia to the
couple flying economy, with some believing it was little more than
a publicity (13) ____________. One man tweeted: "Living a
(14) ____________ life is difficult. Widodo went to Singapore
flying economy but slept in an expensive hotel." A woman
(15) ____________ him, tweeting: "Widodo sets a good example
by flying economy. Hopefully other officials can follow in his
(16) ____________."

designer
stunt
footsteps

b. personality cutbacks
c. personality back cuts
d. personal cutbacks
4)
Widodo opted not to use the official presidential airplane because his trip was ______

a. of a personally nature
b. of a personal nature
c. of a personalised nature
d. of a personality nature
5)
The couple paid for the air tickets themselves but the taxpayers ______

a. feted the bill
b. foot it the bill
c. footed the bill
d. footie the bill
6)
The Widodos are becoming known for their down-______

a. to-us living
b. to-earth living
c. to-her living
d. to-Perth living
7)
since he became leader of the world's fourth most ______

a. popular country
b. populous country
c. poppy lace country

by flying economy class. People around the world have had to tighten their
belts because of government (2) ___________________. Indonesia's leader
has set an example to other world leaders that presidents are not exempt
from making (3) ___________________. He and his wife flew economy
class last week to Singapore to attend his son's high-school
(4) ___________________. Mr Widodo opted not to use the official
presidential airplane because his trip was (5) ___________________. The
couple paid for the air tickets themselves but the taxpayers footed the bill
for the security officers who were on the (6) ___________________
president.
The Widodos are becoming known for (7) ___________________ living.
They have led a very modest lifestyle since he became leader of the world's
fourth (8) ___________________ last month. His wife Iriana is never seen
in designer dresses and does a lot of her shopping in a Jakarta clothing
market. There (9) ___________________ on social media in Indonesia to
the couple flying economy, with some believing it was little more
(10) ___________________. One man tweeted: "Living a fake life is
difficult. Widodo went to Singapore flying economy but slept
(11) ___________________." A woman praised him, tweeting: "Widodo
sets a good example by flying economy. Hopefully other
(12) ___________________ in his footsteps."

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
8

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
1.
What does the article say Mr Widodo adopted by flying economy?

What kind of lifestyle have the Widodos
become known for?

a) a strong mentality
b) a spirit of austerity
c) a frequent flyers membership
d) bad habits

a) a lavish lifestyle
b) an extravagant lifestyle
c) a down-to-earth lifestyle
d) a back-to-basics lifestyle
2.
What does the article say people
worldwide have to tighten?
7.
Where is Indonesia on the list of the
most populated countries?

a) jeans
b) their schedules
c) bolts
d) their belts

a) seventh
b) sixth
c) fifth
d) fourth
3.
Where did Indonesia's leader and his

d) no one was that interested
5.
Who footed the bill for the president's
security guards?
10.
What did a woman want other officials
to follow in?

a) Mr Widodo
b) taxpayers
c) Indonesia's national airline
d) Mr Widodo's son

a) rows of two
b) Mr Widodo's footsteps
c) limousines
d) black suits

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
10

ROLE PLAY
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
Role A – Going to coffee shops
You think going to coffee shops is the easiest thing to cut back
on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their
things aren't so easy to cut back on. Also, tell the others which
is the most difficult of these (and why): buying books,
spending on hobbies or travel.

class • Share your findings with your partners.
• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down
some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.
Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new,
interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,
pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try
to recall how they were used in the text:
• spirit
• belts
• personal
• attend
• couple
• protect
• earth
• fourth
• market
• stunt
• fake
• follow



Q.4.

Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
13

ECONOMY CLASS DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1)
What did you think when you read the headline?
2)
What springs to mind when you hear the word 'austerity'?
3)
What do you think of economy class?
4)
How do you feel when you sit on an airplane?
5)

18)
How much should world leaders be paid?
19)
How would the world change if other leaders followed in Widodo's
footsteps?
20)
What questions would you like to ask President Widodo?

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
14

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________
Copyright © www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com 2014 DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

a very modest lifestyle since he became leader of the world's fourth most populous
country last month. His wife Iriana is never seen (8) ____ designer dresses and
does a lot of her shopping in a Jakarta clothing market. There was (9) ____
reaction on social media in Indonesia to the couple flying economy, with some
believing it was (10) ____ more than a publicity stunt. One man tweeted: "Living a
(11) ____ life is difficult. Widodo went to Singapore flying economy but slept in an
expensive hotel." A woman praised him, tweeting: "Widodo sets a good example by
flying economy. Hopefully other officials can follow in his (12) ____."
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1.
(a)
adoptive
(b)
adopted
(c)
adapted
(d)
adaptive
2.
(a)
strengthen
(b)
tighten
(c)
modify
(d)
loosen
3.
(a)
by

footed
(d)
toed
7.
(a)
earth
(b)
mud
(c)
dirt
(d)
planet
8.
(a)
by
(b)
of
(c)
in
(d)
for
9.
(a)
mix-it-up
(b)
mixture
(c)
mixing
(d)
mixed

16

SPELLING
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
Paragraph 1
1.
adopted a spirit of ayestriut
2.
itegnth their belts
3.
presidents are not mtxeep
4.
graduation enyocemr
5.
use the lacifiof presidential airplane
6.
taxpayers ftdeoo the bill
Paragraph 2

7.
led a very dstmeo lifestyle
8.
the world's fourth most uospoplu country
9.
rsdgeien dresses
10.
mixed acoetirn on social media
11.
little more than a cblpyitui stunt
12.

( )
a good example by flying economy. Hopefully other officials can
follow in his footsteps."
( )
a personal nature. The couple paid for the air tickets themselves but
the taxpayers footed
( )
seen in designer dresses and does a lot of her shopping in a Jakarta
clothing market. There was mixed
( )
high-school graduation ceremony. Mr Widodo opted not to use the
official presidential airplane because his trip was of
( )
from making personal cutbacks. He and his wife flew economy class
last week to Singapore to attend his son's
( )
more than a publicity stunt. One man tweeted: "Living a fake life is
difficult. Widodo went to Singapore flying
( 1 )
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has adopted a spirit of austerity
by

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
18

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
1.
by class a austerity economy Adopted of flying spirit .

wife flew economy class last week to Singapore to attendance / attend his
son's high-school graduation ceremony. Mr Widodo opted / option not to use
the official presidential airplane because his trip was of a personally /
personal nature. The couple paid for the air tickets themselves but the
taxpayers footed / feted the bill for the security officers who were on the
flight to protect / protract the president.
The Widodos are becoming known / knowing for their down-to-earth living.
They have led a very modest / modesty lifestyle since he became leader of
the world's fourth / forth most populous country last month. His wife Iriana
is never seen in designs / designer dresses and does a lot of her shopping in
a Jakarta clothing market. There was mixture / mixed reaction on social
media in Indonesia to the couple flying economy, with some beliefs /
believing it was little more than a publicity / publication stunt. One man
tweeted: "Living a fake / flake life is difficult. Widodo went to Singapore
flying economy but slept in an expensive hotel." A woman praised / praises
him, tweeting: "Widodo sets a good example by flying economy. Hopefully
other officials can follow in his footsteps."
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and
why the correct word is correct.

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
20

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
_ nd_ n _ s __n Pr_ s _ d _ nt J_ k _ W _ d _ d _ h _ s _ d _ pt_ d _
sp_ r _ t _ f __st_ r _ ty by fly_ ng _ c _ n _ my cl_ ss. P__pl_
_ r __nd th_ w _ rld h_ v _ h _ d t_ t _ ght_ n th__r b_ lts
b _ c __s _ _ f g_ v _ r nm_ nt c_ ts _ nd h_ gh_ r t_ x _ s.

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
indonesian president joko widodo has adopted a spirit of austerity by flying
economy class people around the world have had to tighten their belts
because of government cuts and higher taxes indonesia's leader has set an
example to other world leaders that presidents are not exempt from making
personal cutbacks he and his wife flew economy class last week to singapore
to attend his son's high-school graduation ceremony mr widodo opted not to
use the official presidential airplane because his trip was of a personal
nature the couple paid for the air tickets themselves but the taxpayers
footed the bill for the security officers who were on the flight to protect the
president
the widodos are becoming known for their down-to-earth living they have
led a very modest lifestyle since he became leader of the world's fourth most
populous country last month his wife iriana is never seen in designer dresses
and does a lot of her shopping in a jakarta clothing market there was mixed
reaction on social media in indonesia to the couple flying economy with
some believing it was little more than a publicity stunt one man tweeted
"living a fake life is difficult widodo went to singapore flying economy but
slept in an expensive hotel" a woman praised him tweeting "widodo sets a
good example by flying economy hopefully other officials can follow in his
footsteps"

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
22

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
IndonesianPresidentJokoWidodohasadoptedaspiritofausteritybyflyi
ngeconomyclass.Peoplearoundtheworldhavehadtotightentheirbelts

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Level 6 Indonesia leader flies economy – 23rd November, 2014
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2014
24

ACADEMIC WRITING
From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1411/141123-economy-class.html
All leaders should set an example and fly economy class. Discuss.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any
new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next
stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to President Joko Widodo. Ask him three
questions about his flying economy class. Give him three of your ideas on
what he can do next to set an example of cutting back. Read your letter to
your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your
questions.